The psyche of the mass of the people is not receptive of anything savouring of half-measures and weakness.
Like a woman whose sensibilities are influenced less by abstract reasoning than by an undefinable longing governed by feeling, for the strength which completes what is to be done, and who would rather bow to the strong man than dominate the weakling, the people love a ruler more than a suppliant and feel more inwardly satisfied by doctrines which suffer no rival, than by an admission of liberal freedom ; they have very little idea how to use it and easily feel forsaken. They are as little conscious of the shame of being spiritually terrorized as of an abuse of their freedom as human beings, calculated to drive them into revolt ; nor are they aware of any intrinsic wrongness in the teaching. They only see the ruthless strength and brutality of its determined utterances, to which they always bow in the end.
If a doctrine, superior in truth but ruthless in practice, is set up against Social Democracy, that doctrine will win, however severe the struggle.
Before two years had passed the doctrine of Social Democracy became clear to me, as also its use as a practical instrument.
Since Social Democracy well knows the value of strength from its own experience, it usually attacks those in whom it scents something of that element, which is, moreover, so rare. On the other hand, it extols any weakling on the opposing side, at first cautiously, then more boldly, according as his qualities are recognized or imagined.
It fears a powerless, purposeless nature less than strong will, even though its mentality may be indif¬ ferent.
It knows how to make it seem that it alone has the secret of peace and tranquillity, whilst it cautiously but unflinchingly conquers one position after another, either by silent pressure or by downright robbery at